8 replies to this topic

[Handsome Johnny]

we see all sorts of pantomime characters in rugby league these days who pretend they are hard men, ryan bailey, gareth hock, are classice examples. i have watched RL since the early 60s and seen some of the hardest and at the same time skillfull players the game has ever seen.

firstly there is mick sullivan a winger that would scare the life out of most forwards. whose great britain records have only recently been bettered

brian mctigue, a superb ball player who would mix it with the best of them if he had to.

keith elwell, never blessed with size but had a fierce reputation in the game and is by far the best hooker this country has produced (waits for howls from saints fans)

bob dagnall another hooker who was both brilliant and hard.

roger millward always took a hammering but never once was knocked out of his stride

rocky turner, scared the life out of the aussies, but had sublime handling skills for a back row forward.

and i have saved the best til last...vinty karalius. what can i say that hasn't already been said.

[gangad]

I think your being a bit of a Wum with your appraisal of Elwell HJ I think not only Saints fans will disagree with you on that one I take it your talking about Kieron Cunningham when you say your waiting for the howls from Saints fans (I notice you forgot to call them stains mind you ,you can still edit)

[vinty]

Any of the Oldies on here remember Charlie Pawsey who played for Leigh. Now he was a Hard man.

[Handsome Johnny]

mick martin was another and dessie drummond.

gangad i firmly believe that elwell was the first of the new breed hookers and set the standard for the rest who followed for me the nearest to elwell from the past 20 years is james roby.......

Edited by Handsome Johnny, 29 August 2011 - 08:55 PM.

[Greenbanker]

Ray Foster. (RIP) Widnes and Blackbrook prop forward. Gave out plenty,and received it as well.

Some of the Pilks v Blackbrook clashes of the early 70's were frighteningly brutal. Ray was always at the "coal face" in those games.

There were plenty of others too.v Crosfields,Widnes St Maries and one against Ace Amateurs from Hull that were far harder than any professional game I ever saw.

[Handsome Johnny]

i played in a few of those brook v pilks games and they were certainly not for the faint hearted.

[SWIMMER]

My husband and his brother both played for Blackbrook and from what they have told me the games were indeed brutal.
For me Vinty and Ciaran, definitely hard men of the game. Although I have to say that all those who don a RL shirt are not what you could call wimps. lol

[RAY HUYTON]

HAS EVERYONE FOGOTTEN THE GREAT DUGGIE MORE BROKEN BONES THAN SZAMMY HINDLEY HAD IN HIS YARD.

[Alan]

Come to Mammy, as they used to say about Duggie